Celtics owner admits team hoped to make a bigger splash this offseason

The Boston Celtics had high hopes on creating some fireworks this offseason. So far, the team has only been able to obtain Tyler Zeller, Marcus Thornton and a future first and second round draft picks. Some of the big free agents they were rumored to have been interested in are already off the board and their big prize, All-Star forward Kevin Love, could be making his way to Cleveland to play with LeBron James. Ironically, one of the trades the Celtics were involved with may have cleared the way for that.

The team still has a chance to make a splash, but the team may have to be patient in pulling anything off. According to WEEI.com Sunday, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck has expressed his disappointment that the team hasn’t been able to pull off bigger moves, but admits it wasn’t because of the team’s lack of trying.

He told WEEI’s Rob Bradford, “We had definitely hoped to try to make bigger moves this offseason, to be honest. Having said that, it takes two partners to make a trade, so we focused on longterm trying to build the club. We think we’re a better team now – positioned for the future, some new young talent and even more draft picks – but it’s been a patient summer so far, and I’m not always the most patient guy.”

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has definitely had to be patient. While the team is still holding a little hope in obtaining Kevin Love, Ainge has had to continue to obtain assets that could put the team in a better position down the road. In the meantime, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens will continue to evaluate talent and work with the players he has. Grousbeck complimented the work of his young coach.

He added, “Actually, when I think about the offseason, I think about Brad evaluating our players and working with Danny [Ainge] to evaluate the college talent, and it’s actually meshed really well. They were very much in synch on draft night, so that’s a positive for me. Brad is so excited to be here and to be building this thing. He’s impatient as well, but his work ethic is extraordinary.”

The Celtics may have to focus on the young talent they have on the team for now, especially if Love does end up playing for the Cavaliers. With first round draft picks Marcus Smart and James Young, along with rising stars like Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk, the Celtics could build a nice young nucleus that may be attractive enough for other teams to make the kind of splash via trade that Grousbeck and the Celtics are looking for.

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Tarringo T. Vaughan has been a Boston Celtics fan for all of his life, from the days of Big Three of the 80's to the current Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, Tarringo has followed the Celtics rigorously and has covered them under his General Sports title. Follow Tarringo on Twitter https://twitter.com/NESportsExamine and like his page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewEnglandSportsExaminer/info